Idioms in English

Check out Idioms in English now:

1. A hot potato

Meaning: Something that is difficult or also dangerous to handle. 

Example: Terrorism is a political hot potato in the world today.

2. A penny for your thoughts

Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking.

Example: After several minutes of silence Risha finally looked at her and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Reena.”

3. Actions speak louder than words

Meaning: Your actions are more important than your words.

Example: He keeps saying he loves me, but actions speak louder than words”.

4. Add insult to injury

Meaning: Making matters worse.

Example: To add insult to injury, the new first job is now an internship.

5. An arm and a leg

Meaning: A large amount of money.

Example: You’ll pay an arm and leg for this cruise, but it’s the best.

6. At the drop of a hat

Meaning: Without delay; without hesitation

Example: We now have a situation where laws are bent at the drop of a hat.

7. Back to the drawing board

Meaning: Restart something from scratch.

Example: I agree with him about the need to go back to the drawing board.

8. Ball is in your court.
Meaning: you have to take the next step

Example: I’ve taken my decision, now the ball is in your court.

9. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: You’re looking in the wrong place; you’re accusing the wrong person. 

Example: He did not do it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

10. Be glad to see the back of

Meaning: Be happy to see someone leave.

Example: I never wanted her. I’ll be glad to see the back of her.

11. Beat around the bush
Meaning: Don’t answer questions directly; don’t discuss the issue directly.

Example: Tell your problem to me, stop beating around the bush.

12. Best of both the worlds
Meaning: There are two different opportunities available to one in this situation.

Example: She works in the city and lives in the country, so she gets the best of both worlds.

13. Best thing since sliced bread
Meaning: A good plan or an idea; It can also mean a new invention.

Example: When I first got this computer I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.
14. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: Taking up a task that is way too big.

Example: Our boss bit off more than he could chew and always promise the client to get the project ready by next week.

15. Blessing in disguise

Meaning: The good that isn’t immediately recognized.

Example: Reeta losing his job was a blessing in disguise as it gave her an opportunity to pursue higher studies.

16. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Staying up late studying or working.

Example: She is burning the midnight oil for the last few months and her hard work will definitely pay off.

17. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge something based on its appearance alone.

Example: She: He doesn’t look intelligent. He: You can’t judge a book by its cover.

18. Caught between two stools.
Meaning: A person who finds it difficult to choose between two options.

Example: If you organize an event that will appeal to both young and old, you can end up caught between two stools.

19. Cross that bridge when you come to it.
Meaning: When a problem arises, deal with it. 

Example: I don’t know how we’ll pay the bills if you quit your job, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

20. Cry over spilled milk

Meaning: A feeling of unhappiness over something that cannot be changed.

Example: I know I shouldn’t cry over spilled milk but I’m still just so upset that I missed that shot that could have won us the game.

21. Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being too curious can get you into trouble.

Example: Don’t ask about his job-curiosity killed the cat!

22. Cut corners
Meaning: When something is done poorly to save money by taking shortcuts.

Example: I don’t like to cut corners when I have company for dinner.

23. Cut the mustard
Meaning: Achieve success by performing satisfactorily.

Example: We need a better catcher as this one just doesn’t cut the mustard.

24. Devil’s advocate
Meaning: You should present a counter argument.

Example: The teacher always play devil’s advocate to have discussion in the classroom.

25. Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched.
Meaning: Make no plans for something that may not happen.

Example: She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to the dance, but I told her not to count her chickens before they hatched.

26. Don’t give up the day job
Meaning: Something about you isn’t very good. There is no way you could do it professionally.

Example: I tasted the cupcake you baked yesterday. My feedback is: don’t give up your day job!”

27. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: You shouldn’t focus solely on one thing or area.

Example: Do not put all his eggs in one basket by investing all his money on stocks.

28. Drastic times call for drastic measures
Meaning: Taking drastic measures is necessary when you are desperate.

Example: After suffering heavily in yet another stealth attack, the military decided to go for a full-blown war.

29. Elvis has left the building
Meaning: This show has come to an end. It’s all over now.

Example: I think we delayed coming- Elvis has left the building.

30. Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning: Despite difficult times, there will be better days ahead.

Example: He told us about his resignation—an absolute disaster at the time, but every cloud has a silver lining because it led to my appointment.

31. Far cry from
Meaning: The opposite of something else.

Example: He’s a far cry from the idealistic young writer he once was.

32. Feel a bit under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unhealthy.

Example: I’m not coming to office today, I’m feeling a bit under the weather.

33. Give the benefit of doubt
Meaning: Never believe someone’s statement without proof.

Example: I think that he broke his glasses on purpose, but, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

34. Hear through the grapevine
Meaning: Hearing news from someone who heard it from someone else

Example: I am hearing through the grapevine that she is quitting the job.

35. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Doing or saying the right thing at the right time.

Example: You’ve spotted the flaw, Reena and you have hit the nail on the head.

36. Hit the sack/sheets/hay 

Meaning: Going to bed.

Example: I’m exhausted and so I will just hit the sack.

37. In the heat of the moment
Meaning: It’s overwhelming what’s going on right now.

Example: Ram doesn’t hate you. He said all that in the heat of the moment.

38. It takes two to tango
Meaning: Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it.

Example: I blamed her for her lack of attention, well it takes two to tango.

39. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: Participate in an activity or also trend that is popular.

Example: After a couple of politicians won elections by promising to cut taxes, most of the others jumped on the bandwagon.

40. Keep something at bay

Meaning: Do not leave anything lying around

Example: The doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.

41. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: One action can solve two problems at once

Example: We can kill two birds with one stone by dropping off the mail when we go to the grocery store.

42. Last straw
Meaning: This is the last problem in a series

Example: Losing my job was bad enough, but being evicted was the final straw.

43. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: There is a lot going on right now, and it is overwhelming.

Example: I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.

44. Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: The act of revealing a secret or sharing previously concealed information.

Example: I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

45. Make a long story short

Meaning: Let’s get to the point – don’t get bogged down in details.

Example: We started going out and, to make a long story short, we ended up getting serious about one another.

46. Method in the madness
Meaning: In spite of how senseless it may seem, there is a purpose in what one does.

Example: Though your staff is often confused by the way you run the office, I’ve found that there’s method in his madness.

47. Miss the boat
Meaning: The act of missing out on something.

Example: You need to pay attention to studies else you will miss the boat.

48. Not a spark of decency
Meaning: An individual with no manners

Example: Class 2024 shows not a spark of decency by refusing to stand up when their principal entered the classroom.

49. Not playing with the full deck
Meaning: Deficient in mental, psychological, or intellectual abilities.

Example: You are an intelligent guy, but with all that senseless things you do. Moreover, I wonder if you are not playing with the full deck.

50. On the ball
Meaning: An attentive person understands a situation well.

Example: If he was on the ball, this wouldn’t have happened.

Check out more Idioms in other blog.